Pryor talks about Al Davis, rookie season, future

Second-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor arrived late in training camp last season as a result of being selected by the Raiders in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft.
That, combined with his having to serve a five-game suspension for a violation of NCAA rules at Ohio State, set back Pryor’s development.
Well, now he’s on equal footing with his teammates and ready to make strides toward being a starting NFL quarterback. He realizes that he has to wait his turn, given the Raiders have veteran Carson Palmer on the roster, too. However, he is doing everything he can so that he will be ready when called upon.
Here is what Pryor had to say in a lenghty interview after a recent organized team activity in Alameda:

Q: How much further ahead are you with an actual offseason to work with?
Pryor: Big time in terms of footwork, confidence, believing in myself. All of that stuff is miles ahead with more great things to come.

Q: Interview with Sports Illustrated, questioned things?
Pryor: I’m not going to talk about that. That’s in the past.

Q: How difficult was last year?
Pryor: It was just hard not playing. It’d be like you not being able to report or do something that you love. You maybe love to golf and you can’t, you have a sore arm or whatever or your back and you can’t golf anymore. It just gets frustrating.

Q: How different is the offense?
Pryor: This offense is great. I love this offense. Coach Knapp has got some good stuff going for Carson, myself and Matt. It’s a great opportunity to be a part of this, I’ll tell you that much.

Q: Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp believes in you. How much does that help?
Pryor: I’m not saying that he’s supposed to. I work hard and I do the right thing just like Carson does, just like Matt does. That’s how it should be.

Q: Disappointed they signed Matt Leinart?
A: This is the business of football. You have to have a strong core quarterback group because that’s really what leads the team. Defense does win games, yes. You need everybody to be on the same page, but you need a quarterback to know what’s going on and be able to lead the team. I’m not discouraged at all that Matt’s here. Matt’s a great guy and I’m going to go about my business getting better and working hard and no one out-working me. That’s how I live and that’s how I do things every day, and it won’t change.

Q: Did you get 1 percent better
Pryor: Oh yeah. Big big huge improvement. I spent a lot of time with Coach DiFilipio and I cleaned up the footwork, taking my feet in my progression and nothing but good results.

Q: You really competing for No. 2 spot or content to be No.3?
Pryor: Oh, yes, I’m competing to play.

Q: Have to caution to not try to overdo it after missing last year?
Pryor: Naw, I just go within the plays that I get and within the reps that I get. Just like I said, my 1 percent. I live by that code because that’s all I want to do. I want to get myself better. I’m not worried about … I mean sure, I learned a lot from Carson but I’m not going to worry about what he’s doing. I’m not going to worry about what Matt’s doing because I have to be on my A game every day. I’m competing to play in the second spot, competing to play, get in the game a leader on the field, off the field? That’s the questions I ask myself to see if I got an A today or I got one percent better or what?

Q: Each quarterback have a different skill set?
Pryor: I got a big arm, too. A big arm. I just happen to be able to run and that just adds on to my arsenal. If you go throughout the reads and do the right progression and throw the ball to the right spot where you want it to be, and if nothing’s there and I take off, then that’s a plus.

Q: What did you think about rookie wide receiver Juron Criner?
Pryor: He saved Carson, he saved myself, he saved Matt also. He’s a player. He has learned, just like myself and everybody else, he’s going to be a good one. He catches everything that comes near him. I was very impressed with him.

Q: Relief to get back on the field?
Pryor: It’s good to play this game that I love and continuing to get better every day. It’s a blessing. Different circumstances because I’m behind somebody that’s very talented. I wouldn’t want to learn from anybody else than Carson. But I’m in a different position, I’m working hard to get better every day and learn from him and taking mental reps while he’s in there taking snaps. That’s all I can do right now.

Q: What’s it like learning from Palmer?
Pryor: As a person, he’s one of the best people I’ve ever met, the way he handles his work but he also gets into my technique to fix what I did wrong. He’s great. I couldn’t ask for anyone better.

Q: Coaching change, worry you might not have a place?
Pryor: No, because I knew my work ethic would … I know coaches come in and have a different perspective about you or whoever the player is, and I knew my work ethic and how I drop and do the things that they wanted me to do. It carried myself over into what they wanted done. If I wasn’t doing it right in practice or whatever we’re doing in drills, I would be out here working by myself so it is what they want. But that didn’t really come into my mind.

Q: This offseason, where did you improve?
Pryor: Really just footwork and having a chance to learn the offense. I didn’t know anything last year, nothing at all. I knew some of the stuff going into games and stuff like that but starting from Day 1 here right now when the new coaches came in. On the other hand I came in last year at the end of camp and everything was already put in. I couldn’t ask the coach, the offensive coordinator. We didn’t even have a quarterbacks coach so I couldn’t even learn anything from that standpoint. So this is definitely a blessing and this is in God’s hands.

Q: What was that one play you were in for going to be if it hadn’t been negated by the penalty?
PRYOR: Just a quarterback sneak. But I mean, I was doing what I was told. I never heard of a rule — neither did any of our coaches know the rule — of getting under the center too fast and snapping the ball too fast.

Q: Were there going to be more plays for you in that game?
PRYOR: I had a whole package in. But I think that whole package didn’t come in maybe because of that play or the score ended up being 21-7 or 21-0, I can’t remember. That screwed it up, too.

Q: You think you could’ve played more in the following games if that play had gone better?
PRYOR: I don’t know. I was told to take the snap just like I did. So I obeyed my coaches and did exactly what they told me to do. But it’s my fault. We’ll do it like that. I’ll take the responsibility. The score–I’ll take it as the score was 21-7 and I couldn’t get in.

Q: Do you have any indication that they might be adding specialty plays for you this season?
PRYOR: Competing to play. Carson is the starter and he’s going to be the starter. But I don’t put myself as I’m going to be backup. I mean, I don’t sit around saying, ‘I want to be a backup, that’s what I want to be.’ That’s not how I operate. That’s not how I want to be. I’m going to work to play. And Carson’s always played well and always will. Whenever the opportunity comes for me to play, I’ll play. But I’m not planning to be a back-up. Get that correct.

Q: How much does it help to have a veteran like Carson to learn from?
PRYOR: Oh, he’s great. A lot of the stuff I know right now I’ve learned from Carson. It’s just great to have him here.

Q: What kinds of stuff does he say to you?
PRYOR: Just something small, like we were watching film today and I threw a pass, I completed it, but after the play he’s like, ‘Look where your left foot was, your pointer foot, it was turned inside.’ And I was throwing the ball across the field. So little things like that that he does all the time. That’s a big help just to hear it from him. He’s taking all his time to give a word for me to get better.

Q: Dennis Allen has said there’s a lot in you to prove to people you can play quarterback in the NFL. Is that a driving thing for you?
PRYOR: Yeah. I’m just looking for my opportunity, because when I get an opportunity, it’s on from there. Of course, it fuels me that people say I couldn’t be a quarterback or stuff like that. But my plan is in God’s hands, like I said before, and with my work ethic and within myself. And whatever anybody else says it’s irrelevant to me. It really doesn’t matter to me.

Q: Did you ever get a chance to talk to Al Davis?
PRYOR: I talked to him a couple times a week before he passed. He would give me a call. Just a couple times a week–he would just tell me he believed in me and stuff like that. Nothing very… I’m not sure exactly what was going on with him… We would get on the phone and we would chat.

Q: Do you view this almost as a true rookie year for you because of the limitations of last year?
PRYOR: What I can say about last year is I learned the speed of the corners, I learned what the NFL is, in terms of, you have to get back and get rid of the ball. The rush is between the D-linemen getting to you, nothing else. So I learned the speed of the D-linemen, you’ve got to get the ball out fast because of them. You’ve got to throw at different angles. From that standpoint, no, I’d say this is my second year. Because I learned an awful lot by taking snaps against the first team in… the practice-role doing the scout team. I learned a lot in terms of physical stuff like that. So I learned a good bit. I’d say this is my second year because I did learn a lot.

Q: Have you convinced some of the WRs to stay out here for you to throw to?
PRYOR: Oh yeah. We’ve got a bunch of hard-working guys. We also have guys that want to get better. No one’s good enough not to get enough work.

Q: Allen has said how hard a worker you are. You think you surprise coaches sometimes by working that hard?
PRYOR: I like to work hard, you know? Because when it’s my time to play, I want to be more than ready. I want guys to be like, ‘Wow.’ That’s it.

Q: When’s that going to be?
PRYOR: Whenever the time comes.

Q: When you have those conversations with Al Davis, does that motivate you?
PRYOR: Yeah, that drives me. Because the last pick–the last pick may not mean anything. I might not mean nothing to anybody. But to me, you know, it kind of felt like–last pick of a guy that made a legacy of football. He was just a well-known guy. Being the last pick… I mean, that’s special, just in that sense, just how his name is always brought up. He’s on HBO shows now after his death. It’s just an honor, how much I have to, I want to.

Q: What’s it like to finally have a QBs coach, like DeFilippo, unlike last year?
PRYOR: Oh, it’s great. You learn. He’s all about technique and stuff. He works with me, I’m always around him, I’m always texting him, getting input, so it’s great. To have somebody to lean on when I need to know something, (instead of)
just having an offensive coordinator. I mean, I never heard of that before. I didn’t know what I was getting into coming in here. It’s definitely great that Mr. McKenzie got a quarterback coach because I’m learning a lot.

Q: Was it DeFilippo who noticed the technique work you needed?
PRYOR: A lot of my throws, it was all in my feet, in my hips and how I carried my feet. Since I picked up that stuff up, my balls are becoming very accurate. It’s helping.

Q: You’re already noticing a difference?
PRYOR: Oh, yes, huge. Huge difference. I sit back in the film room and I watch Carson and then Carson helps me. So it’s great. I’ve got a great opportunity and it’s a great time. Because I’m learning a great bit.

Steve Corkran

Post navigation

RoMac’s suspension will be 3 games. If he’d assaulted a woman, it would be one game.

guest123

Duck,

I heard from somewhere? I think a DA press conference that Burris can play all 3 LB spots. I didn’t know he was limited to OLB?

DennisAllensVisor

Palmer & Schaub are almost identical..

Schaub – 6’5″ 241, knee problems, slow..

Palmer – 6’5″ 236, knee problems, slow..

lol come on guys.

DennisAllensVisor

guest123 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:43 am
Duck,

I heard from somewhere? I think a DA press conference that Burris can play all 3 LB spots. I didn’t know he was limited to OLB?

—-

Correct. He played some MLB at SDSU

guest123

EJ Henderson would at least be a reasonable comp to RoMac from last year. And he can be signed cheap off the street now. Why not?

hwnrdr

DMAC, I hope that with that, that the league does take action! I know McCarthy was hysterical after his catch was called a drop! Crazy crap man!

RaiderRockstar

Ausberry will surprise a whole lot of folks.

***

I don’t know much about this kid. I know Palmer raved about him and he’s been working with Palmer, DHB & T.O. this offseason. I know he bulked up this year.

Haven’t seen much yet, though. Too early to crown him imo

Hope he’s a better blocker than Reece.

I think one of the youngsters will emerge at TE:

David Ausberry
Kyle Efaw
Richard Gordon
Brandon Myers

flip a coin as to which one it’ll be

DennisAllensVisor

If its Kyle Efaw then we have major issues..

http://demitassechicago.com Albert Bigelow Paine

Tampa is trying to trade Winslow. Could be a possibility for Raiders.

DMAC

hwnrdr Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am

DMAC, I hope that with that, that the league does take action! I know McCarthy was hysterical after his catch was called a drop! Crazy crap man!
=======

I’m down for the replay, but it has to be done fast.

RaiderRockstar

Where did that MLB from Houston go to I think his name was Sammy Brown??

***

undrafted to St Louis Rams!

Dakota

Kobe brought us a lot of headaches and troubled waters, and he will probably not go out gracefully, but neither did Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Michael Jordan and many other star athletes……but he also gave us 5 titles, so I will always be a Kobe fan.

I heard from somewhere? I think a DA press conference that Burris can play all 3 LB spots. I didn’t know he was limited to OLB?

—-

Correct. He played some MLB at SDSU

============================================

It was my understanding that Burris will exclusively play OLB, and Stupar MLB. This could change anytime, of course.

guest123

We may be in a new WCO scheme, but it’s not going to be that much different from last year and just mimic Houston right away. There is too much speed at the existing WR spots to play dink and dunk with the TE. This offense is going to remain deep vertical. You can’t ignore the personnel that you have and purposely limit their potential just to fit a scheme.

DMAC

guest123 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:50 am

We may be in a new WCO scheme, but it’s not going to be that much different from last year and just mimic Houston right away. There is too much speed at the existing WR spots to play dink and dunk with the TE. This offense is going to remain deep vertical. You can’t ignore the personnel that you have and purposely limit their potential just to fit a scheme.
=========

I agree

RaiderRockstar

Palmer & Schaub are almost identical..

Schaub – 6′5″ 241, knee problems, slow..

Palmer – 6′5″ 236, knee problems, slow..

lol come on guys.

***

@DAV

does every NBA player that is 6’6″ 205 lbs and 33 years old have the same skill set as Kobe Bryant??

hey bro, let’s be honest. It’s like those people who keep saying Tommy Kelly can play nose tackle due to his size. He doesn’t have that ability. He doesn’t have that mentality. He doesn’t have that discipline. He’s bigger than Jay Ratliff (Cowboys Pro Bowl 3-4 NT) , but he’ll never give us half as much in terms of stuffing the run

Are you a HWS guy, like Al Davis was??

RaiderRockstar

You can’t ignore the personnel that you have and purposely limit their potential just to fit a scheme

does every NBA player that is 6′6″ 205 lbs and 33 years old have the same skill set as Kobe Bryant??

hey bro, let’s be honest. It’s like those people who keep saying Tommy Kelly can play nose tackle due to his size. He doesn’t have that ability. He doesn’t have that mentality. He doesn’t have that discipline. He’s bigger than Jay Ratliff (Cowboys Pro Bowl 3-4 NT) , but he’ll never give us half as much in terms of stuffing the run

Are you a HWS guy, like Al Davis was??

—-

Im a ‘watch them play’ guy.

These guys both move like stiffs. And they are near exact on H/W.

Not hard to comprehend.

This ones easy.

DMAC

ESPN’s Bill Williamson does not believe the Raiders will trade a wide receiver this offseason.
Oakland is loaded with young wideout talent, which could make 2009 fourth-round pick Louis Murphy expendable. Williamson, however, expects the team to keep everyone and “see how it develops” in camp. As a fifth receiver due $1.26 million, it still wouldn’t be surprising if Murphy was moved before Week 1.
Source: ESPN.com

DMAC

W/ all the young talent we have at WR spot, will anyone miss Murph if he were cut or traded?

hwnrdr

DMAC Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:58 am
W/ all the young talent we have at WR spot, will anyone miss Murph if he were cut or traded?

No, especially if there is someone else who takes his spot that can be more productive! It will upset me more if we keep him and let a prospect go that goes on to have a great year!

RaiderRockstar

As a fifth receiver due $1.26 million, it still wouldn’t be surprising if Murphy was moved before Week 1

***

5th WR? hot dang!

all it took was one look at rookie OTA’s with no contact for Criner to pass Murphy on the depth chart ??

guest123

Murph is battling a hammy and those are always tricky. Maybe he reagravates coming back too soon, and never gets a chance to prove himself in TC. I don’t see anyone trading for Murph. They’ll just wait till we cut him.

guest123

Criner did more than pass Murph on the depth chart. He’s a lock to make the roster.

DHB, Ford, Moore, Criner all are locks. 2 more WR spots are up for grabs.

RaiderRockstar

Palmer & Schaub are almost identical
Im a ‘watch them play’ guy

***

@DAV

apparently, you’re not

DennisAllensVisor

RaiderRockstar Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:03 am
Palmer & Schaub are almost identical
Im a ‘watch them play’ guy

***

@DAV

apparently, you’re not

—-

Are you saying that they both dont have knee problems, and they both dont move well?..

guest123

I think with Criner, we don’t have a need for TO or Plax or any other vet WR. Even vet min for those guys is pushing $1M. It’s a nice problem to have with all that young talent. CP3 will make good use of it.

guest123

Murph = JLH

DMAC

Just read that Madden 13 will feature ‘Tebowing’

http://www.raiderettes.com Sullivan44

Why do so many Raider fans insist on the deep passing game? Shouldn’t winning just be the goal?

DennisAllensVisor

McClain practicing today.

DEATHROW 55

Palmer has the bigger arm. He is a better option out of the 2 in my opinion.

ALAMEDA — If there was such a thing as MVP of the Raiders’ first open-to-the-media OTA practice, rookie receiver Juron Criner would have been feted.
The fifth-round draft pick was that good last Tuesday.
The obvious challenge, then, is for for the wideout from North Las Vegas by way of the University of Arizona to maintain his form going forward, especially as the second week of OTA’s get underway today at the team’s compound.
“I feel like it was a good practice, but that sets the tone for how I need to practice the rest of the time here, (for) the years to come,” Criner said Tuesday.
“It just shows the confidence. Once you start to get in your playbook and once you’re able more to just play and not have to think about what you’re doing, it starts to show.”
Sandwiched between cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke and strong safety Tyvon Branch, Criner went up between the two of them to pull down a 50-yard bomb from quarterback Carson Palmer for a highlight reel touchdown.
Later, Criner went Cris Collingsworth worth an over-the-shoulder grab on a bomb from Terrelle Pryor, beating Pat Lee in the process.
All this, remember, from a 6-foot-3, 221-pound wideout with supposedly not enough speed to make such plays. His pedestrian 40-yard dash time of 4.68 seconds at the Combine would have turned off the previous Raiders’ regime.
“I feel like I was able to do that because you have to work the route. You’ve just got to try to eat up the cushion, stick the route. Just referring back to my college coach, you stick the route and try to get his hips to twitch any way you can and that will help you.”
And in going across the middle, and in traffic, he was able to adjust mid-route to pick Matt Leinart’s slighty-behind pass out of the air.
“He saved Carson, he saved myself, he saved Matt also,” Pryor said of Criner. “He’s a player. He has learned, just like myself and everybody else, he’s going to be a good one. He catches everything that comes near him. I was very impressed with him.”
A year ago, the Raiders’ fifth-round draft pick was a revelation in receiver Denarius Moore, whose 18.7-yards-per-catch average and five touchdown receptions led Oakland. No doubt, the Raiders are thinking they found another late-round steal in Criner.
Oh to have been a fly on Palmer’s shoulder as the two waked off the practice field following Criner’s, ahem, Practice MVP performance.
“That’s basically what he was telling me, that right there sets the standard,” Criner said of his walk-off conversation with Palmer. “You expect nothing less of yourself. He was just telling me, if you go at practice without making a play, you should be mad at yourself because you’re expected to do that day in and day out.
“When you get the chance, you’ve just got to come down with the ball. Like my old college coach used to tell me, when the ball’s in the air it belongs to you.”

Silverandblack666

Sandusky44

No one reads your retarded banter I often wonder why are you even here are you that desperate for attention?

DennisAllensVisor

DEATHROW 55 Says:
May 21st, 2012 at 10:17 am
Palmer has the bigger arm. He is a better option out of the 2 in my opinion.

—-

Thing is, which I dont think RRS understood, Im not comparing their ability. Im stating that the 2 are identical physical specimens. H/W/S.